Lancet study predicts 71,000 care home places shortfall

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Local Government Association call for urgent reform of adult social care and sustainable solutions to problems.

Responding to a study published in the Lancet warning that an extra 71,000 care home places will be needed in England by 2025, Councillor Izzi Seccombe, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said “This analysis reinforces the urgent need to reform adult social care and deliver a long-term sustainable solution. The Lancet study confirms our warnings that this will heap even more pressures on social care and the demand for services."

The one-off injection of £2 billion for social care announced in the Spring Budget was a step in the right direction, said Seccombe, but added that it did nothing to address the £2.3 billion a year shortfall in funding predicted for 2020.

“It is absolutely critical that the Government brings forward its consultation for social care announced in the Queen’s Speech, and that it works with local government leaders in delivering a long-term sustainable solution for social care. This must address the issue of long-term funding, but it must also create the conditions necessary to ensure the development of the right kind of care and support services, that can meet the demand of an increasing number of adults with care needs” said Councillor Seccombe.